Nowadays, DASH diet is gaining great popularity for controlling blood pressure levels. The full form of DASH is Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Through this dietary program, you can control your hypertension your whole life. The DASH diet endeavors to lower your sodium intake and encourages you to consume various nutrient-rich foods to manage the level of blood pressure.

If you or someone close to you are experiencing menopause signs, then getting a clear knowledge about hormone replacement therapy can provide you with a good support to decide whether you should go for it or not. You can consult your doctor, or can take help of online websites; there are many websites like Nexel Medical on which you can get proper consultancy and guidance regarding HRT. Let’s have a look to HRT in depth.

Hormone Replacement Therapy – What is it?

Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT is also popularly known as estrogen replacement therapy and menopausal hormone therapy. In this process, with the help from progesterone and estrogen, you can get some relief from the usual signs of aging as well as menopause. If your doctor realizes the need for HRT, they can even suggest it during or after the menopause phase.

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) provides hormones that our body is no longer able to make. This treatment is believed to be the most useful option for treating the symptoms of menopause.

The need for Estrogen:

As we already know estrogen is required during or prior to pregnancy. However, it has some other roles too, like making our bones strong enough, enhancing the level of good cholesterol, supervising the use of calcium by our bodies.

Is HRT useful?

In women’s reproductive system, estrogen as well as progesterone play an integral role. Estrogen encourages the discharge of eggs and on the other hand progesterone makes your womb ready for the implantation of eggs.

It’s a natural fact that number of eggs reduces as the time goes by, as well as production of estrogen reduces too. Usually women begin to experience such problems in their late forty’s.

Perimenopause:

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Perimenopause is a situation of woman’s transition into menopause; changes starts to continue even the women still have their menstruation. Symptoms can begin as early as age of 44, it can last from anywhere between 3 to 10 years. On an average woman experiences this condition for a period of almost four years.

Menopause:

On an average at around the age of fifty one, when your last period appears, you step into your menopause.

Post menopause:

After having your last period, menopause usually continues for a whole year after which you step into the post-menopausal period. The various signs start to reduce in the next two to five years, however sometimes it can last for ten years or even a little more than that.

Nevertheless, various other situations like cancer treatment or removing ovaries because of some reason can instigate the arrival of menopause earlier than expected.

The above ailments need to be taken care of before having this treatment. Also there is a possibility that you might get pregnant while you are on HRT. So it is normally suggested that you use contraceptives for two years since the last time you had your periods if you are less than 50 years old or at least for a year if you are more than 50 years old.

In such conditions, doctors might suggest alternative options too.

A recent line of thinking suggests that the chances of having breast cancer increases if you are on HRT for a continuous period of 5 years or more. However for women between 50 to 60 years the risk of blood clotting related health issues or stroke is not that high.

Because of HRT there is an outside chance that women may gain weight. A recent study has revealed that women usually gain weight during menopause, however it’s not necessarily because of HRT. Some other reason behind gaining weight during this time might be the lack of physical exercises. It has also been found that with a change in hormone levels fat gets redistributed and this leads to an increase in appetite caused by a fall in the levels of estrogen.

HRT Types:

There are various options available in the market for this treatment. Expert advice is always welcome for guiding you to choose one that is right for you.

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Majority of women get a mixture of hormones called progesterone and estrogen. However for women who don’t have a womb can get just the estrogen only.

There are various options available in the market for getting the treatment, like a vaginal cream, tablets, gel, pessaries or even ring, skin patches etc.

This medication needs to be used continuously, without any gap. You can also go for a cycle, where you can get estrogen continuously and progesterone in every alternate week.

There are 2 main types of hormone therapy:

One stream is known as estrogen-only therapy. This hormone provides relief to women from menopausal symptoms. This form of treatment is normally favored for women who do have an uterus due to some accidents or procedures like hystecrectomy.

The therapy that uses a combination of both estrogen and progesterone is called EPT. The role of progesterone in this treatment is to protect women having uterus from uterine cancer.

Modes of HRT:

There are certain systemic products that can be used. They will normally flow through the bloodstream to all parts of the body. They are available in various forms like gel, patches, oral tablets, sprays , injections etc. They are effective in treating symptoms like hot flashes , vaginal symptoms, night flashes , osteoporosis etc.

There is another category of products that act on a specific area or part of our body. These category of products are available in the form of a ring , cream or tablet. They are effective in dealing with vaginal symptoms.

Best practices for prescribing:

The best way to begin hormone therapy is to start with small but effective doses and continue that for the shortest possible period of time in line the goals that you are trying to achieve through this treatment. It has been found that women aged between 50 to 59 years who start the treatment close to their menopause have a greater chance of having a favorable result. However if started later then it becomes riskier with age and arrival of menopause. For women who experience menopause before the age of 40 can go for HT provided they do not have a previous history of breast cancer. However it is recommended that you should consult with a professional before going for this treatment. They will suggest customized plans for individuals.

HRT Side effects and risks associated with it:

Like several other medications, HRT also has some side effects, however these effects mostly go away within the initial 3 months.

Following are some usual side effects:

Nausea, headaches, indigestion, tenderness of breast, vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. Some of it can enhance the risk of breast cancer as well as blood clots too.

HRT Alternatives:

Some alternatives to HRT are also available especially for women with perimenopause symptoms.

These are as follows:

Stop smoking

Lower the consumption of spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine

Daily workout

Sleeping in a cool as well as well-ventilated room

Put on loose cloths

A medicine known as tibolone has a similar impact as that of a combined HRT (progesterone and estrogen). However it might not be as effective as HRT. This option is only meant for women who had their last menstruation over a year ago.

Clonidine is a non-hormonal medicine, which can help you to avert night sweats as well as hot flashes too. However the benefits might not be as pronounced as HRT.

Though it has some side effects like dizziness etc. however antidepressant can also lower the symptoms like hot flushes as well as night sweats too.

Though HRT is a good option for treating menopausal symptoms, however before you decide on anything you need to have a really good talk with your doctor. Your doctor can advise you on what to do and what not to, according to your current health situation.

Menopause is a natural phase for every woman. When a woman is not having her periods for almost a year, then it’s medically considered that her ovaries are not able to produce as they used to before. Symptoms of menopause include both emotional as well as physical signs, like mood swing, hot flashes, having problems in sleeping etc. However there are various medicines are available in the market, which can support women, during those initial months. Though most people experience menopause after turning 50, however, many women have also experienced it during their 40’s too. Because of family history or physical condition they can experience this early in their life.

We all believe in getting a healthy diet, however very few of us actually fulfill this desire completely. Sometimes we get confused as to which healthy options to choose & hence finish our grocery with various confused items. There are a few food items available in the market, which are considered as super foods. These foods are good remedies to deal with various women health related issues.

Asparagus:

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Asparagus is a huge source of vitamin K, which plays an important role in keeping our bones healthy. Snack on half a cup and soon it will work like magic, it can fulfill 1/3 portion of daily vitamin K requirement. Presence of folate helps you to avert spina bifida like birth defects.

Beans:

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Beans are a rich source of protein, high in fiber but no fat. For vegetarian people it’s a great substitute for meat for fulfilling their daily protein requirement. Ailments, which can lead to heart problems like high BP, blood sugar, high heart rate, beans could be a nice remedy for these ailments.

Kale:

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An excellent source of vitamin K, it goes well with vitamin D as well as with calcium &is able to make to bones healthy & strong too. One serving of kale can provide you more than twenty % of regular suggested portions of vitamin C & A.

Berries:

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Berries like cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries are not only rich in vitamin C & folic acid, they also taste really good. This rich antioxidant supplier can protect your body from cancer too. According to Perryn, strawberries, blackberries & blueberries are rich sources of flavonoids, which might keep your heart healthy, because of the presence of antioxidant properties.

Instead of fresh berries, you can also buy frozen berries too, which are little less pricy.

Broccoli:

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Convenient for the whole year, this cruciferous veggie is a huge supplier of folate, iron, vitamin C, A, K, omega-3 fatty acids & the presence of anti-cancer phytonutrients, makes it a super food.

Presence of folate, makes it quite useful for pregnant women or women who are planning to get pregnant. It can also avert osteoporosis &is able to lower the risk of birth defects. In addition it can enhance the brain activities & hemoglobin levels in our body. Broccoli is also able to keep your heart healthy & boost your digestive system.

It has anti-cancer entities like sulforaphane, however if we boil it hard, it has the tendency to lower the level of this compound. Some other benefits of this compound are protecting against UV damage, improve skin, reduce the risk of stomach ulcer etc.

Oily Fish:

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Oily fish (mackerel, sardines, salmon etc.) are rich suppliers of omega-3 fats, which can keep your heart healthy. These are great suppliers of fat soluble vitamin D also, which support our bones to stay healthy.

According to registered dietitian and spokesperson for the BDA Sasha Watkins, though it’s not finalized, but researches have proven that consuming oily fish might help in averting macular degeneration (age related blindness).

Turmeric:

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Turmeric is quite a popular spice in Asian cuisine, at the same time turmeric is also known as a Chinese herbal medicine too, because of the presence of anti-inflammatory as well as healing compounds.

It’s a great source of curcumin & when it is mixed with vitamin D, it could lower the chances of having Alzheimer’s ailment. Turmeric is also capable of managing diabetes, prevent arthritis, and improve digestive system as well as liver function too. It also support to regularize menstruation as well as lower the pain during that situation. Presence of antioxidants generally negatively impacts the growth of tumors commonly found in women.

Flax seed:

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Presence of lignans along with exploding fiber, makes it a plant based item which can work like estrogen. It has the ability to reduce the risk of breast cancer. However make sure you have consulted with your doctor before adding it to your diet, because it can contradict your other medicines. Flax seed oil is quite popular as an omega-3 supplier, however in oil form flax seed can’t provide those anti -cancer benefits.

Tart Cherries:

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Tart or sour cherries like balaton varieties & Montmorency are not very sweet, they taste quite acidic. A modern research has revealed that these cherries can lower the chances of stroke. This super food is able to manage cholesterol levels & enhance insulin. It also is quite useful in lowering muscle pain as well as inflammation also.

These cherries are rich sources of a hormone known as melatonin, which can regulate the body clock by lowering sleep problems & boost up our sleep quality.

Yoghurt:

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Yoghurt is a rich source of Vitamin B6, B12, calcium, zinc, protein & potassium. They are considered as a good choice for bone & digestive health too. After having antibiotics for a long period of time, you need to work on good bacteria. Probiotic yoghurts are there to fulfill this requirement. According to experts, for keeping your bones healthy you need to consume 3 dairy products & yogurt is something which can easily be carried out too.However you need to check the label, while you are shopping for yoghurts. Because some might have extra sugar or high calories.

We all usually follow certain things like brushing, flossing, visiting dentist etc. to keep our teeth healthy. However, we don’t usually put much focus on the fact that there are a few habits which can leave wreck our teeth. The following article will help us to realize that certain lifestyle & regular habits can ruin our teeth, so it’s time to change.

Ice Chewing:

We have a misconception that ice is sugar free so we can have it as much as we want to. However because of chewing ice cubes your teeth can easily get cracked. On the other hand chewing hard objects for a long period of time can irritate the soft tissue of the inside of your teeth & instigates toothaches. Cold or hot food can easily provoke the pain, which can linger for a long period of time. So try to get some sugar free gums as a substitute for ice cubes.

Piercing Your Tongue:

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Tongue piercing is a current fashion trend, especially among young people. Nevertheless if you by mistake bite on the metal, then there is possibility of cracking your teeth. Experts have revealed that long term tongue jewelry can enhance chances of gum ailments, which could even result in losing your teeth. This sort of jewelry not only leads to gum problems, it could even abate gum tissues too. Lip piercing is equally dangerous. As we know mouth is an area where bacteria can easily grow, these short of piercing just instigates more infections in your mouth.

Fruit Drinks Along With Sodas:

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Majority of fruit drinks & sodas are full of sugar. So make sure you have gone through the label before buying it, otherwise you are going to expose your teeth to these extreme sugary drinks. In addition to regular sodas, soda diet or sugar free sodas are a rich source of phosphoric acid, tartaric & citric acid, which can also decay your teeth. If you are really having a hard time to stay away from these sugary drink, then at least try to brush or use water to clean your mouth just after having those sugary stuff. According experts, there are very few differences between the bad impacts from diet & regular sodas.

Playing Sports With No Mouth Guard:

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Sports like hockey, football or any other any other sports, where people comes in each other’s close physical contact, you should wear mouth guard before getting into the field. It’s a kind of plastic mold, which can protect the teeth of your upper row. In case you are not wearing it, there is a chance that when the action gets rough your teeth might get damaged, knocked off etc. If you are an athlete then you can get help from your dentist in getting a customized guard.

Using Teeth As A Tool:

When you are using your teeth in more ways than just chewing food, like opening bottle caps or tearing plastic bags then only you are responsible for your teeth’s injuries. As per dental experts you need to stop these wreck less habits as early as you can otherwise it could even lead to cracking of your teeth.

Brushing Your Teeth Extremely Hard or Not Brushing Enough:

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Sometimes we feel so tired at night that we simply ignore the brushing & go to sleep. According to experts we should not skip brushing at night. In fact we need to spend at least two minutes twice to brush our teeth & it will help us in keeping our teeth healthy.Sometimes we think that brushing hard would clean our teeth well, but in the reality brushing extremely hard can disturb our gums & even lead to teeth damage too.

Using Cough Drops Often:

Thinks twice before using cough drops as a remedy for cough or dry mouth. According to Dr. Doan it contains so much of sugar, that it can aggravate your tooth decay quite easily.

Clenching or Even Grinding Your Teeth:

Sometimes it becomes really hard to stay away from such wreck less habit, because people tend to do this during their sleep too. This repetitive motion results in wear and tear of your teeth and causes pain in your teeth and jaws. So you need to consult with your dentist for any kind of night time support.

Tobacco Chewing:

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We all knew about the effects of such habits. It not only ruins your teeth, it can even lead to cancer as well. So do whatever you need to do to stay away from this deadly habit.

Providing Bottles During Bedtime:

Providing a juice or milk bottle during your baby’s sleep time is quite common. However this is nothing but pushing them towards the path to teeth problems. Your baby might prefer this kind of sleeping & for you also it’s an easy task to put them in bed. It will leave their teeth sugary the whole night. Though it could be really difficult during the initial few days, but you need to stay focused to keep bottle away.